10 Forms of Off-Grid and Remote Communication

Reader Contribution by Christopher James Marshall

Electronic Communication for Remote Locations

Electronic communications can be limited when off-grid and/or remote. Off-grid means you must generate your own electricity to power phones and radios, while remote means you might be out-of-range to connect.

Left to right: cell phone, smart phone, satellite phone, HAM transceiver, Walkie Talkies

Cell phones and smart phones work fine if you’re within range of a cell tower, but often remote locations get only a single bar of signal strength, and that is sometimes only in one particular spot, not even necessarily at your home. With a reduced signal, text messages get thru, Internet will use up more data because of errors and re-transmission. Only with better signal can voice calls be completed. It can be very frustrating to go outside to the “phone spot” to make or wait for a call.  Weather conditions can make weak signal strength go to zero.

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